Identifier

Author

Degree

Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA)

Department

Music

Document Type

Major Paper

Abstract

Claudio Monteverdi’s operas and madrigals, and their importance in the development of Western Music has been researched and discussed by many scholars. His sacred output, particularly the solo motets, is not as thoroughly researched. This study briefly explores Monteverdi’s life with emphasis on his sacred output, and discusses his development of text expression in the solo motets that echo the expressive progression found in his madrigals and operas. While focusing on three solo motets (two settings of Confitebor tibi, Domine and a setting of Currite, populi), this study traces the refinement of text expression and the development of stile concitato, molle, and temperato, and also provides an introduction to performance considerations for both the undergraduate and graduate vocal performance. A translation and phonetic transcription of these works are included, as well as a list of other easily accessible solo motets and a brief description of each.